Wireless Connectivity in a Radar Detector

ABSTRACT

Wireless and other external connectivity technology is used in various ways to enhance or improve upon existing radar detector and police activity detection systems. External memory interfaces, such as SD cards or USB, provide external storage. Wireless interfaces such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, 802.11, and wireless personal area network communication protocols, allow a detector processor to interact wirelessly with external devices, such as a Bluetooth headset, a cellular network device providing a server connection, or toggle buttons used to indicate the presence of police activity at a current position. Further, radar detectors are upgraded to provide GPS capabilities, using the existing power/data connector of the radar detector.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No.12/389,978 filed Feb. 20, 2009, and claims the benefit of Ser. No.12/389,978 filed on Feb. 20, 2009. This application is also related toU.S. Ser. No. 11/620,443 filed Jan. 5, 2007, U.S. Ser. No. 10/396,881,filed Mar. 25, 2004, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,670,905, each of which claimbenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/139,097,filed Jun. 14, 1999, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.60/145,394, filed Jul. 23, 1999. All of these applications are herebyincorporated herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to radar detectors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Radar detectors warn drivers of the use of police radar, and thepotential for traffic law citations if the driver exceeds the speedlimit. The FCC has allocated several regions of the electromagneticspectrum for police radar use. The bands used by police radar aregenerally known as the X, K and Ka bands. Each relates to a differentpart of the spectrum. The X and K bands are relatively narrow frequencyranges, whereas the Ka band is a relatively wide range of frequencies.By the early 1990's, police radar evolved to the point that it couldoperate almost anywhere in the 1600-megahertz wide Ka band. During thattime radar detectors kept pace with models that included descriptivenames like “Ultra Wide” and “Super Wide.” More recently, police havebegun to use laser (optical) systems for detecting speed. Thistechnology was termed LIDAR for “LIght Detection And Ranging.”

Radar detectors typically comprise a microwave receiver and detectioncircuitry that is typically realized with a microprocessor or digitalsignal processor (DSP). Microwave receivers are generally capable ofdetecting microwave components in the X, K, and very broad Ka band. Invarious solutions, either a microprocessor or DSP is used to makedecisions about the signal content from the microwave receiver. Systemsincluding a digital signal processor have been shown to provide superiorperformance over solutions based on conventional microprocessors due tothe DSP's ability to find and distinguish signals that are buried innoise. Various methods of applying DSP's were disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,954,828, 5,079,553, 5,049,885, and 5,134,406, each of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein.

Police use of laser has also been countered with laser detectors, suchas described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,206,500, 5,347,120 and 5,365,055, eachof which is incorporated herein by reference. Products are now availablethat combined laser detection into a single product with a microwavereceiver, to provide comprehensive protection.

The DSP or microprocessor in a modern radar detector is programmable.Accordingly, it can be instructed to manage all of the user interfacefeatures such as input switches, lights, sounds, as well as generatecontrol and timing signals for the microwave receiver and/or laserdetector. Early in the evolution of the radar detector, consumers soughtproducts that offered a better way to manage the audible volume andduration of warning signals. Good examples of these solutions are foundin U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,631,542, 5,164,729, 5,250,951, and 5,300,932, eachof which is hereby incorporated by reference, which provide methods forconditioning the response generated by the radar detector.

Methods for conditioning detector response are gaining importance,because there are an increasing number of signals present in the X, K,and Ka bands from products that are completely unrelated to policeradar. These products share the same regions of the spectrum and arealso licensed by the FCC. The growing number of such signals is rapidlyundermining the credibility of radar detector performance. Radardetectors cannot tell the difference between emissions from many ofthese devices and true police radar systems. As a result, radardetectors are increasingly generating false alarms, effectively “cryingwolf”, reducing the significance of warnings from radar detectors. Amongthe possible sources of false alarms are microwave door openers, publicsafety systems such as ARTEMIS, and other radar detectors. At this time,there are very few signal sources that can cause false laser detectionsin comparison to the substantial list of false microwave signals justdescribed. However certain locations near airports have beendemonstrated to cause such problems for various laser detector products.The issue of false signals and ways of addressing geographically fixedfalse sources, is addressed in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No.6,670,905, in which the characteristics of false sources are stored withreference to the GPS-based location of the source, so that in subsequentencounters the false source may be ignored or the response to thatsource conditioned.

Vehicle electronics continue to increase in sophistication; GPSreceivers and satellite receivers are now commonplace. Furthermore,wireless (typically Bluetooth) connectivity to cellular telephones andcellular networks has become commonplace, permitting hands freeoperation and in some circumstances, Internet or text messaging (SMS)connectivity within the vehicle electronic systems. As these vehicleelectronic systems continue to propagate and increase in complexity,increasingly sophisticated functionality will be available to driversfrom their vehicle electronics.

For example, a common problem with navigation devices with GPScapability is that data on the device may not updated. As such, when auser inputs into his or her navigation device the location that he orshe wishes to go to, the navigation device will typically calculate theroute or routes to the location using the data that is not updatedstored on the device. The data may have been input into the navigationdevice when the navigation device was first purchased, sometimes monthsor years beforehand, and as such, the route or routes are calculatedwith data that is not updated. But to improve the calculation of routes,some navigation devices may request that a server calculate the route orroutes. For instance, the server may include traffic data and thereforethe route(s) the server calculates may take into account the trafficdata. The server then may transmit back to the navigation device a routethat does not appear to have any traffic jams. Thus, some navigationdevices with GPS capability have modems built into the devices toreceive the route or routes from the server.

Furthermore, some navigation devices download traffic data from servers.The device typically needs to initiate the contact with the server byrequesting the traffic data, otherwise, the server does not communicatewith the device. Thus, some navigation devices with GPS capability havemodems built into the devices to receive updated traffic data.

Data may also be transmitted, typically one way, from a sub-carrier orstations to a navigation device to display the name of the song andartist for a song playing in the vehicle. This data may be transmittedby FM broadcast and/or received by a modem of the navigation device.

Moreover, an application from Trapster is available for iPhone devices,BlackBerry devices, some Android devices, some Nokia devices, and otherdevices, which follows a driver's location as a dot on a map via GPScapability, and when the driver passes a police officer lurking by theside of the road with a radar gun, the driver may tap on his or heriPhone, for example, to mark the location as a speed trap point. Thatdata point may then be sent to a server so that other drivers usingTrapster can then be alerted of that speed trap when they approach thatpoint on the map. The driver may report the location of live policetraps (e.g. police with radar or laser guns set up), red light cameras,speed cameras, or usual police hiding spots, using the shortcut keys ormenu items on the mobile phone. Thus, via the application, the iPhonemay transmit to and receive data from Trapster's server.

In particular, the driver may view on his or her iPhone screen a list ofthe traps near the driver and the distance to each one, with the datareceived from the server. The application gives the driver data aboutwhen the trap was reported, the confidence level, and who reported it,and allows the driver to rate traps that were reported by other usersbased on whether the driver agrees or disagrees with a trap. Colors areused to indicate the “confidence” of the trap, and the confidence isincremented when different users report the same trap at the samelocation from their mobile device or when users rate traps via theTrapster website. Further, if a driver reports a trap, and otherscorroborate that report, then that driver's Karma score goes up as well.

Besides viewing the traps, the driver may be alerted (e.g., audioalerts) when he or she approaches previously reported traps, and mayalso get alerts for new live police reports in his or her area via textmessage. Indeed, some versions support viewing traps on a map, while inothers, the alerts are shown as a textual description in the mainapplication window.

Although the enhancements described have aided drivers, nonetheless,further enhancements may be made to reduce inaccuracies and improve adriver's experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention features a police activity detector thatincludes an external memory interface coupled to the detector processor,allowing the processor to connect to external memory via the interfaceto retrieve or store said software and/or data or copies thereof.

In specific embodiments, the external memory interface is a securedigital (SD/uSD) card interface, or a universal serial bus (USB)interface. The data in the external memory can include stored voicecommands, voice files, text files in a selected language, radar sourcelocations and characterizations, geographic locations of policeenforcement activity, speed camera locations, and red light cameralocations. The external interface may be in a separate housing from thedetector per se, such as in a windshield mounting.

The detector may also include a safety warning system (SWS) radioreceiver acquiring SWS data, and alerting a driver of SWS data acquiredby the receiver.

The detector may also include a wireless networking radio forcommunication with networked devices using a digital networkingcommunication standard in the IEEE 802.X family.

In a second aspect, the invention features a radar detector having awireless device interface comprising a radio compliant with one or moreof: Bluetooth, Zigbee, 802.11, and wireless personal area networkcommunication protocols, so that the detector's processor interactingwirelessly with an external device via said wireless device interface.

In specific embodiments, the detector may pair with a Bluetooth headset,so as to deliver warnings to a user of the detector via the headset.Alternatively, the detector may pair with a Bluetooth-compatiblecellular network device, allowing the detector's processor to use thecellular device to obtain an Internet connection, and exchange data witha remote server via the Internet connection, or establish a telephoneconnection, and exchange data with a remote server via said telephoneconnection by use of dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) signaling.

In other specific embodiments, the external device may be a globalpositioning receiver, allowing the processor to use location data todetermine whether to issue a warning to a user of the detector.

In disclosed embodiments, the external device may be enclosed in ahousing that incorporates a cigarette lighter plug for obtaining 12 voltpower from a cigarette lighter connector.

In a further aspect, the invention features a warning system having aglobal positioning system and a wireless device interface comprising aradio compliant with one or more of: Bluetooth, Zigbee, 802.11, andwireless personal area network communication protocols, allowing aprocessor of the warning system to interact wirelessly with an externaldevice via said wireless device interface to obtain or store datarelated to positions and data relative to police activity at thosepositions.

In the specific disclosed embodiment, the warning system may have theform of a toggle button which may be activated by a user to indicate thepresence of police activity at a current position, and which may includea speaker for generating warnings upon approach to a speed trap or otherpolice activity area.

In other embodiments, the external device may be a Bluetooth-compatiblewireless cellular device, such that the processor connects to thewireless cellular device to obtain an Internet connection, and exchangesdata with a remote server via said Internet connection, or connects tothe wireless cellular device to establish a telephone connection, andexchanges data with a remote server via said telephone connection by useof dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) signaling.

In yet another aspect, the invention features a radar detector upgradedevice, for use with the power/data connector on a radar detector. Thedevice has a housing that incorporates a cigarette lighter plug forobtaining 12 volt power from a cigarette lighter connector, and aposition indicating circuit for detecting a current position and storagefor storing information regarding particular positions. The upgradedevice couples power obtained from the cigarette lighter connector tothe radar detector, and receives indications of alerts from theconnected radar detector. The upgrade device also references the currentposition and stored data to determine whether to mute the alert in theevent the current location correlates to a location at which an alert isto be muted.

The upgrade device may also learn locations of police activity or falsealarms thereof by storing a current location as identified by saidposition indicating circuit when an alert is indicated by the radardetector.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present inventionshall be made apparent from the accompanying drawings and thedescription thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with a general description of the invention given above, andthe detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve toexplain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an electrical block diagram of a radar detection circuit inaccordance with principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the radar detector of FIG. 1placed within its operating environment to demonstrate possible uses.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention inwhich radar detector functionality is incorporated into a 12 volt powersource attachment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present inventionwhere a toggle button is in operable communication with a mobilecommunication device for speed trap detection.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a speed trap detection system that usesonly mobile communication devices.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present inventionwhere a radar detector is in operable communication with a GPS unit.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present inventionwhere a detector is in operable communication with a navigation unit.

FIG. 8A is an illustration of a radar detector coupled to an aftermarketpower cord assembly incorporating GPS functionality.

FIGS. 8B1 and 8B2 illustrate alternate embodiments in which a navigationunit communicates via wired or wireless connections to a radar detector.

FIGS. 8C1 and 8C2 illustrate alternate embodiments in which a GPS unitcommunicates via wired or wireless connections to a radar detector.

FIG. 8D illustrates an embodiment in which a 12 volt power sourceattachment including a display communicates wirelessly with a remoteradar detector.

FIG. 9 is an electrical block diagram of another radar detection circuitin accordance with principles of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of the radar detector of FIG. 9placed within its operating environment to demonstrate possible uses.

FIG. 11 is another functional block diagram of the radar detector ofFIG. 9 in a client-server system or environment.

FIG. 12 is yet another functional block diagram of the radar detector ofFIG. 9 in a client-server system or environment.

FIG. 13 is an exemplary false alert designation routine consistent withthe principles of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an exemplary threat designation routine consistent with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an exemplary update routine consistent with the principles ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, the radar detector 20 in accordance withprinciples of the present invention includes a processor 22 forcontrolling all functions of the unit. Processor 22 receives informationon radar signals from a conventional X/K/KA band microwave receiver 24,coupled to processor 22 via a digital signal processor (DSP) 26.Microwave receiver 24 and DSP 26 may utilize any of the techniquesdescribed above and in the above-referenced patents, for rejecting noiseand increasing discrimination between actual and spurious police radarsignals. Further, receiver 24 and DSP 26 may be controlled by anoptional second CPU 25, which can enable additional signal evaluationbeyond that which is possible using a DSP.

Processor 22 is further connected to a laser detector 30 for detectingpolice LIDAR signals. Processor 22 is further connected to a GPSreceiver 32 and a separate differential GPS (DGPS) receiver 34, suchthat differential GPS methodologies may be used where beacon signals areavailable. Since the radar detector application described in this patentis not a candidate for military class service, it is not able to accessthe more accurate PPS. However it is considered a “civil user” and canuse the SPS without restriction.

Processor 22 executes a stored program, found in an electricallyerasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) 36, flash memory, ormasked read only memory (ROM). The processor is programmed to manage andreport detected signals in various ways depending on its stored program.This programming includes functions for detector response conditioning,as elaborated below.

The radar detector further incorporates a user input keypad or switches38. Operational commands are conveyed by the user to processor 22 viathe keypad. Processor 22 is further connected to a display 40, which maycomprise one or more light emitting diodes for indicating various statusconditions, or in a more feature-rich device, may include analphanumeric or graphical display for providing detailed information toa user. A speaker 42 is also provided to enable processor 22 to deliveraudible feedback to a user under various alert conditions, as iselaborated below.

Processor 22 may further include an interface 44, such as an ODB IIcompliant interface, for connection to vehicle electronic systems 46that are built into the vehicle. Modern vehicles are being equipped withstandardized information systems using the so-called OBD II standardinterface. This standard interface is described in an article entitledODB II Diagnostics, by Larry Carley, from Import Car, January 1997,which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Processor 22, usingthe OBD II standard interface 44, can obtain vehicle speed and othervehicle status information directly from the vehicle, and then may usethis information appropriately as described in more detail below.Additional and more detailed information and functionality may beobtained by Intelligent Vehicle Data Bus (IVDB) systems that may in thefuture be incorporated into vehicles in addition to or in place of OBDII.

Processor 22 is further coupled to a Universal Serial Bus (USB)interface 48 (which may be of the series “mini-B” variety) that providesa means for uploading and downloading information to and from processor22. It should be noted that there are three types of USB connection,Series “A”,“B”, and “mini-B”. The series “mini-B” receptacle has thedimensions 6.9 mm by 3.1 mm, whereas series “A” has the dimensions 12.5mm by 5.12 mm. The standard USB is of the series “A” variety. In oneembodiment the present invention contemplates the use of the series“mini-B” receptacle. The “mini-B” would utilize less space on thedetector than the standard series “A” USB. USB interface 48 may be usedto automate the assimilation of coordinate information into datastructures in EEPROM 34, as described below.

Processor 22 may serve as a host on USB interface 48, or may serve as aslave on that same interface. In the former case, USB interface 48 mayalso be used to interface the detector to a USB storage device such as aflash memory. In the latter case, the USB interface 48 may permit theprocessor to communicate with a separate host computer or productapplication for the purposes of updating or monitoring the activity ofthe detector.

External storage devices coupled via USB interface 48 may have a largerstorage capacity than available from internal memory. Remote storagedevices may include any form of dynamically allocatable storage device(DASD) such as a flash memory, hard disk drive, removable or fixedmagnetic, optical or magneto-optical disk drive, or removable or fixedmemory card, or any device including a dynamic directory structure ortable of contents included in the storage format to permit dynamicstorage allocation. The storage device, or host computer or otherconnected device need not be visible to the driver and may be in anyconvenient location, such as under the vehicle dash.

USB interface 48 may also be used for the purposes of firmware upgrade.From time to time updates and bug fixes may become available, e.g.through a manufacturer website. USB interface 48 will enable the user toapply the appropriate firmware upgrade or bug fix, whereas in a priorembodiment the manufacturer would have conducted such an upgrade.

USB interface 48 could also be used to add other user waypoints. TheInternet provides a convenient means for storing and accessingrepositories of information. Web sites may be established and devoted tothis task, and provide several convenient types of training information.One could be a training file containing the coordinate information fromthe online “Speed Trap Registry” at the Internet site www.speedtrap.com.This information would be usable to set “always warn” bits at thelocales of known speed traps. A second type of training informationwould be training files submitted by individuals for use in particularareas, and the third type of information would be aggregate trainingfiles created by integrating individually-submitted information intosingle files organized by region. Aggregate training files would bemanaged and updated by the web site administrator.

Where a host computer is used in conjunction with the radar detector 20,coordinate information can be stored, e.g., on a hard drive organizedwith an indexed database structure to facilitate rapid retrieval, andthe hard drive may include a special purpose processor to facilitaterapid retrieval of this information. Where a general purpose hostcomputer is connected via the USB interface, it will likely be based ona higher scale CPU chip and thus be able to efficiently carry outcomplex coordinate comparison tasks such as are described below, andsuch tasks may be delegated to the host CPU rather than carried out inprocessor 22. The host CPU can also anticipate the need for informationabout particular coordinates based upon vehicle movements, and respondby retrieving records within proximity of the current location for readydelivery to fusion processor 22. The host computer can also providenavigational functions to the driver, potentially using stored signalinformation and flag bits to provide the user with location-specificinformation about driving hazards and potential police stakeoutlocations.

As an alternative to a USB interface, radar detector 20 may includewired or wireless functionality for exchange of data. For example, in awired embodiment, a flash memory slot 50 such as a secure digital (SD)or micro secure digital (uSD) slot could be used to provide data to andobtain data from the radar detector 20. Flash memory may provide alarger memory space available for databases, as an augmentation to theEEPROM memory 36.

Flash memory is non-volatile computer memory that can be electricallyerased and reprogrammed. The non-volatile designation means that nopower is needed to maintain the information stored on the card. Inaddition, flash memory offers fast read access times and better kineticshock resistance than a hard disk. Another feature of flash memory isthat when packaged in a memory card (or a USB device), it is enormouslydurable, being able to withstand intense pressure, extremes oftemperature, and even immersion in water. These features make a flashmemory card an ideal candidate for the harsh environment inside avehicle. Some flash memory card formats include Secure Digital (SD),micro Secure Digital (uSD), Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC), andSecure Digital Input Output (SIDO).

It will be appreciated, as noted above, that flash memory functionsdescribed above may be achieved by a USB connectable flash memorydevice. In this implementation the radar detector 20 USB connector 48hosts a mass storage device rather than or in addition to being usableas a USB slave device.

Processor 22 is further coupled to a Safety Warning System (SWS) radio52 capable of signals from Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC)beacons transmitting on the 5.9 GHz frequency band and designated forvehicle use. The SWS/DSRC is an infrastructure capable of transmittingwarning information to surrounding vehicles in the vicinity of travel ofvarious, possibly hazardous, situations. Some transmitted warningsinclude freezing bridge warnings, fog zone warnings, rest area alerts,rail road crossing warnings, and construction zone alerts. In accordancewith principles of the present invention, SWS information may bereceived and alerted to a driver through numerous possible userinterfaces as disclosed herein.

Processor 22 further incorporates an IEEE 802.X radio 54 that provides ameans for sending data packets across local area networks ormetropolitan area networks. Specifically, the IEEE 802.X interface 54may be used to transmit data packets via the 802.11 family, also knownas wireless local area network computer communication (Wi-Fi), developedby the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee in the 5 Ghz and 2.4 Ghz publicspectrum bands. The IEEE 802.X interface 54 may also be used to transmitdata packets via the 802.15 family, also known as wireless personal areanetwork (WPAN) communication. This specific family can be furtherdivided into two subgroups designated 802.15.1, known as Bluetooth, and802.15.4, known as Zigbee.

Bluetooth is a wireless protocol utilizing short-range communicationstechnology facilitating both voice and data transmissions over shortdistances from fixed and/or mobile devices, creating the aforementionedWPANs. The intent behind the development of Bluetooth was the creationof a single digital wireless protocol, capable of connecting multipledevices and overcoming issues arising from synchronization of thesedevices. Bluetooth provides a way to connect and exchange informationbetween devices such as GPS receivers, radar detectors, personalheadsets, and mobile phones over a secure, globally unlicensed 2.4 GHzshort-range radio frequency bandwidth.

Zigbee is a wireless protocol utilizing low-rate WPANs, and focuses onlow-cost, low-speed ubiquitous communication between devices. Theemphasis is on very low cost communication of nearby devices with littleto no underlying infrastructure, intending to lower power consumption.The touted feature of Zigbee is the ability to achieve extremely lowoperational costs, due to reduced power consumption, and itstechnological simplicity.

Although Bluetooth and Zigbee are not expressly intended for this use,in accordance with principles of the present invention, the radardetector 802.x radio could pair with a cellular telephone using aheadset or other handsfree device profile, to enable the radar detectorto dial telephone numbers and exchange DTMF signals, or alternatively touse text messaging/SMS to communicate information to and from a remoteserver and/or database.

Bluetooth or other 802.x technology may also be used to connect aconventional headset profile to the radar detector 802.x radio, so as toprovide remote audio alerting to the conventional headset. Thisimplementation may find particular utility in motorcycles orconvertibles where a speaker integrated into the radar detector may bedifficult to hear.

As an example, signal information may also be downloaded from varioushosts, for example, a connection may be established directly via the USBinterface or a wireless interface to an Internet site carrying signalinformation, as is now done in a text form at the Internet sitewww.speedtrap.com. An indirect Internet connection may also beestablished via a cellular telephone, WiFi hot spot, or host computer.Connections may be used to obtain speed trap information, as discussedabove, or to obtain other speed monitoring information such as speedcamera locations. Furthermore, a connection may be used to check foravailable firmware updates or other system changes that need to beannounced to all enabled devices. Furthermore, peer-to-peer connectionsmay be established between two receivers, e.g. a trained receiver havingextensive signal information, and a receiver having less extensiveinformation, to transfer signal information between the receivers sothat either or both has a more complete set of signal information. Speedcamera locations and firmware may also be transferred in thispeer-to-peer mode. Finally, it will be appreciated that peer-to-peerconnections may be made directly over an 802.x ad-hoc network, or may bemade through a LAN or Internet infrastructure utilizing a peer locatingserver as is now commonly used in file sharing and gaming networks.

In one embodiment, a database of locations is incorporated within theradar detector 20, and processor 22 is a multithreading processor, suchthat the multithreading processor 22 manages the location databasewithout involvement of external processors or hosts. The multithreadingprocessor 22 may be programmed to allow rapid continuous processing ofrecords in the location database using parallel threads. Generallyspeaking, processor 22 compares the radar detector's immediatecoordinates with a stored list of the coordinates of unwanted stationarysources. If the radar detector receives a microwave/laser signal withina certain distance of one of these pre-designated sources, processor 22applies additional constraints to the detection criterion beforealerting the user. Since stationary radar sources make up the bulk ofthe unwanted sources, there is a significant benefit resulting fromthese functions.

It will be appreciated that processor 22 may execute a program on EEPROM36 or may execute a stored program found in flash memory in slot 50, inaddition to or instead of the programming found in EEPROM 36.Furthermore, firmware upgrades from flash memory may include, forexample, voice files used by the radar detector to provide voiced alertsas is now a common feature. This functionality provides a ready upgradepath to language extension of the device to different markets, andallows updating and upgrading of functions to include voiced feedback aswell as on-screen displays. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that theflash memory slot may be incorporated into a device in wirelesscommunication with the processor 22 via, for example, the 802.x radio54, so that flash memory in a connected cellular telephone, power sourceattachment, vehicle navigation system, or dashboard GPS receiver orradar detector display, may conveniently include a flash memory cardreader slot that is accessible to processor 22.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of the present invention in operationin a particular vehicle environment. The embodiment includes a radardetector 20, power supply 60, mobile telephone 62, location sensingsatellite 64, SWS communication network 66, telephone communicationnetwork 68, Internet communication network 70, and a remote database 72.In this embodiment the detector 20 obtains operational power through apower supply 60 connected by an operable means, such as the SmartPlugwhich is used by the assignee of the present invention. However,operational power may be provided through on board means, such as arechargeable battery. Operational power is described as the powerrequired to allow the detector to execute all described functions.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the detector 20 has an operable connectionwith a mobile telephone 62. In this embodiment the mobile telephone 62is enabled with IEEE 802.15.1 technology, also known as Bluetooth. Whilethe operable connection between the detector 20 and the mobile telephone62 may be in the form of a serial or USB cord, many cellular telephonespresently available permit communication through the IEEE 802.X radio 54of the detector 20. The detector 20 also incorporates a Safety WarningSystem radio 52 that allows the detector 20 to receive informativemessages regarding upcoming or ongoing road conditions.

During a radar detection alert in this embodiment, the detector 20 isable to obtain the GPS coordinates of the detection, accomplished bycommunications between satellites 64, beacons (not shown), the DGPSreceiver 34 and GPS receiver 32 of the detector 20. With the coordinatesobtained by the receivers 32, 34, the detector 20 is able to determinewhether the detected signal can be correlated with a signal detected ina previous radar detection encounter. To correlate the present signaldetection with a previous detection encounter, the detector 20 comparesvarious parameters of the current detection with the stored parametersof the previous detection. Parameters that may be evaluated are thesignal signature of the present detected signal versus the signalsignature of a previously detected signal within a predetermined area ofthe received coordinates, the detector's rate of travel at the time ofthe present detection versus the rate of travel at the time of aprevious detection within a predetermined area of the receivedcoordinates, the direction of travel at the time of the presentdetection versus the direction of travel at the time of a previousdetection within a predetermined area of the received coordinates. Theseparameters are stored on a detection look up table 74 located on theEEPROM 36 of the detector 20.

Once a detection has been matched with a previous detection the detector20, evaluates past user input during the previous detection whendeciding whether and how to alert driver of the present detection. Ifthe user has designated the matched detection as a false alert, then thedetector 20 may mute the speaker 42 and/or forego a visual alert.Alternatively, if the user has designated the matched detection as anauthentic detection, then the detector 20 may alert through the speaker42 and/or create a visual alert. Additionally, the detector may send anaudible alert to a Bluetooth headset 76 through the IEEE 802.X radio 54.This feature is especially useful in environments where the user mayhave difficulty hearing an alert tone from the detector's speaker 42 orwould prefer a more personal in ear alert.

The operable connection with the mobile telephone 62 allows the detector20 to communicate with a remote database 72. The remote database 72stores transmitted GPS coordinates of an observed radar encounter or adetected radar encounter. An observed radar encounter is a situationwhen the user notices a speed trap, traffic camera, or other mechanismdesigned for purposes of ticket revenue or traffic deterrence instead ofsafety that may or may not be emitting radar. A speed trap may bedefined as a location where the police strictly enforce the speed limit.Alternatively, a speed trap may be defined as a road section wherepolice are known to have a reputation for writing an unusually highnumber of traffic tickets, the posted speed limits are not easily seen,or the speed limits are set much lower than a road engineering surveymay suggest.

The communication with the remote database 72 of the present inventioninvolves the user operatively indicating to the detector 20 that thepresent detection (observed or detected) is a speed trap. This may bedone with a switch, remote button, or by a button located on thedetector 20. Once a user operatively characterizes a detection as aspeed trap, the detector 20 communicates with the mobile telephone 62,which communicates particular parameters to the remote database 72. Thecommunication between the mobile telephone 62 and the remote database 72may be accomplished through a telephone communication network 68 such asa GSM or CDMA2000 protocol. Communication through a telephonecommunication network 68 may be in the form of a short message throughthe short message service (SMS). The communication through the telephonecommunication network 68 may also be in the form of dual tonemulti-frequency (DTMF), also known as touchtone. Where the mobiletelephone 62 is capable of Internet connectivity, the communicationbetween the mobile telephone 62 and the remote database 72 may beaccomplished through an Internet communication 70. The mobile telephone62 may obtain Internet connectivity to the remote database 72 throughInternet communication 70 protocols such as WiFi, Zigbee, EDGE, or 3G.

The detector 20 may also receive notifications from the remote database72. These notifications may communicate the location of speed traps thatother detector users have observed and reported. By broadcasting the GPScoordinates through Internet communication means 70 or telephonecommunication means 68 in operable communication with the mobiletelephone 62 that is in operable communication with the detector 20, theremote database 72 is able to send information to the detector 20. Thisinformation include the GPS coordinates of speed traps indicated byother detector users. This feature can provide real time speed trapnotification to detector users and alert them to proceed with cautionwhen a speed trap is approached.

The present invention also contemplates the use of non-GPS enableddetectors. FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of thepresent invention where the detector is an non-GPS enabled detector 20.In this embodiment the power source attachment 78 houses a DGPS receiver80, a GPS receiver 82, a status display 84, and a detection look uptable 86. In this embodiment the detector 20 may obtain operationalpower through the power source attachment 78, and operativelycommunicate with the power source attachment 78 regarding previous andpresent detections through a USB or serial cord connection or throughIEEE 802.X radio 88.

Optionally, radar detector 20 may itself include an 802.x radiopermitting wireless communication with power source attachment 78, inwhich case radar detector 20 may be battery powered, or may be remotelylocated such as in the vehicle's grille area, requiring only a 12 voltpower connection for complete installation.

As is done by circuits within the detector of FIG. 2, the power sourceattachment 78 correlates stored data parameters of a present detectionto the parameters of a previous detection and mutes the speaker 42 ofthe detector 20 and/or the visual alert accordingly. The power sourceattachment 78 is also equipped with a means of designating speed traplocations. This may take the form of a button or switch located on akeypad 89 of the power source attachment 78. In this embodiment, thepower source attachment 78 is in operable communication with the mobiletelephone 62, and with this configuration the user is still able todesignate speed traps and communicate with the remote database 72 withsimilar communication means described above. The power source attachment78 may also receive updated information regarding speed trap locationsfrom the remote database 72 with similar communication means describedabove. Also as noted above, the power source attachment 78, or thedetector 20 itself, can transmit warnings to a Bluetooth headset 76through the IEEE 802.X radio 54.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the presentinvention where there is no radar detector present. In this embodiment abutton assembly 90 houses a DGPS receiver 92, GPS receiver 94, and anIEEE 802.X radio 96. The button assembly 90 is in operativecommunication with a power supply 60, and a mobile telephone 62. Thecommunication between the button assembly 90 and the mobile telephone 62may be made either by a serial or USB connection or through the IEEE802.X radio 62.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the toggle button assembly 90 includes aGPS receiver 94 and DGPS receiver 92 for detecting a current location,and interacts via an IEEE 802.x radio with a cellular telephone 62 orother communication device to retrieve speed trap locations from aremote database 72. This communication may be by the telephonecommunication network 68, or the Internet communication network 70 bythe means described above. Nearby speed traps which have been identifiedin the database are acquired and if the vehicle approaches one of thosespeed traps, a warning is delivered via the cellular telephone 62 or viaa display and/or speaker which may be included in the toggle buttonassembly 90.

Furthermore, when a user of the embodiment of FIG. 4 visually detects aspeed trap, the user may activate the button assembly 90, by toggling abutton, switch, or knob. Once activated the button assembly willdocument the GPS coordinates received by the DGPS and GPS receivers 92,94 that communicate with the location sensing satellite 64, and thenoperatively communicate the information to the mobile telephone 62. Themobile telephone 62 may then transmit the coordinates of the detectionto the remote database 72. Subsequently, other travelers may receiveInternet messaging, or retrieve an update from database 72, includingthe annotation of the speed trap, and deliver the appropriate warnings.

FIG. 5 illustrates, for comparison, a block diagram of an embodiment ofa speed trap detection system that utilizes a mobile phone. Recently asystem of this kind has been marked at the URL www.trapster.com. In thisapplication, a user reports the detection of a speed trap through anapplication on a GPS enabled mobile telephone 98 by pressing aprogrammed button on the phone 98. Button activation will cause thephone 98 to document the GPS coordinates received from a locatingsatellite 64, and send the received coordinates of the indicated speedtrap to the remote database 72 by a telephone communication network 68,or via an Internet communication network 70. Subsequently, theapplication on the GPS enabled mobile telephone may retrieve locationsof speed traps stored in remote database 72 and deliver responsivealerts to the user of the phone. This embodiment requires the use of aGPS enabled mobile telephone, a customized application on thattelephone, and the constant operation of that application on thetelephone, none of which are required in the embodiment of FIG. 4,making FIG. 4 more usable for many environments which are not availablein FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the presentinvention where the detector 20 is in operable communication with a GPSunit 100. In this embodiment the detector 20 and GPS unit 100 maycommunicate through a serial or USB connection, or through IEEE 802.Xradios 54, 102. When the detector 20 detects radar, it will access thecoordinates provided by the GPS unit 100 that is in operablecommunication with a location sensing satellite 64, and determinewhether the detected signal can be correlated with a signal detected ina previous radar detection encounter. Accessing the detector look uptable 74 located on the EEPROM 36 and correlating of the present signalwith a previous detection encounter as described above. Additionally,whether and how the detector 20 alerts through the speaker 42 isdescribed above. The detector 20 in this embodiment is in operativecommunication with a mobile telephone 62 either by a serial or USBconnection or through the IEEE 802.X radio 54. Through this connectionthe invention is able to operatively communicate with the remotedatabase 72 by a telephone communication network 68 or an Internetcommunication network 70 through the method described above. Thedetector 20 in this embodiment is also able to receive speed traplocation updates from the remote database 72. The detector 20 may sendan audible alert to a Bluetooth headset 76 through the IEEE 802.X radio54.

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the presentinvention where the detector 20 is in operable communication with apower supply 60 and a navigation unit 110. In this embodiment thedetector 20 is in operative communication with a navigational unit 110through a serial or USB connection, or through IEEE 802.X radios 54,112. When the detector 20 detects radar, it will access the coordinatesprovided by the navigational unit 110 that is in operable communicationwith satellites 64 and determine whether the detected signal can becorrelated with a signal detected in a previous radar detectionencounter. The detector 20 then accesses the detector look up table 74located on the EEPROM 36 and correlating of the present signal with anyprevious detection encounter as described above, and determines whetherand how to alert through the speaker 42 as described above. The detector20 may send an audible alert to a Bluetooth headset 76 through the IEEE802.X radio 54.

Referring now to FIG. 8A, in an alternative embodiment the invention maybe implemented as a substitute power cord assembly for a radar detector.In this embodiment the power cord assembly includes a GPS receiver, DGPSreceiver and marked detection lookup table or map. The power cordassembly is coupled to a conventional radar detector to provide power tothe detector and to provide a mute signal to the detector. It will beappreciated that the power cord used with many conventional radardetectors includes a signal line for a mute signal, which is activatedby a pushbutton on the power cord assembly. The power cord assembly ofFIG. 8A connects to this mute signal line and provides a mute signal tothe detector in the event that the location of the detector, asdetermined by the GPS receiver in the power cord assembly, correlates toa rejectible signal as identified in the lookup table in the power cordassembly. The database in the power cord assembly may be updated in theevent that the user mutes an alert of a radar signal being generated bythe radar detector, e.g., the power cord assembly may provide the userthe option to store the location where the mute was engaged, to preventfuture alerts at the same or a similar location.

The embodiment of FIG. 8A may be further implemented through a firmwareupgrade to a conventional radar detector. New firmware in the detectormay cause the detector to differently condition its alerts uponresponses from the power connector, so that the GPS receiver in thepower cord is more tightly coupled to the radar detector and moretightly controls the alerts from the GPS receiver in a manner moredirectly akin to an integrated unit.

FIGS. 8B1 and 8B2 illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which anintegrated vehicle navigation unit that includes GPS receivers, adisplay and a map function, communicates with a radar detector. Theconnection to the radar detector may be wired as shown in FIG. 8B1 orwireless via a Bluetooth or other 802.x radio as shown in 8B2. In eithercase, an application in the navigation unit operates to generate alertsof radar when detected by the attached radar detector, and furthercommunicates with a stored lookup table or map to suppress radarwarnings in the event that a detected signal correlates to a rejectablesignal, and to store false signal locations when identified by the uservia the user interface of the navigation unit.

FIGS. 8C1 and 8C2 illustrates an embodiment similar to FIGS. 8B1 and 8B2in which a dashboard GPS receiver, which includes GPS receivers, adisplay and a map function, communicates with a radar detector. Hereagain, the connection to the radar detector may be wired as shown inFIG. 8C1 or wireless via a Bluetooth or other 802.x radio as shown in8C2. In either case, an application in the GPS unit generate alerts ofradar when detected by the attached radar detector, and furthercommunicates with a stored lookup table or map to suppress radarwarnings in the event that a detected signal correlates to a rejectablesignal, and to store false signal locations when identified by the uservia the user interface of the GPS unit.

FIG. 8D illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention in whicha 12 volt power source attachment including GPS and DGPS receivers and adisplay, is coupled via a Bluetooth or other 802.x radio to a remoteradar detector that includes Bluetooth functionality but does notinclude GPS functionality. One example of such a device is the radardetection unit sold by K40 Electronics under the brand name Calibre. Inthis embodiment, the power cord assembly communicates via Bluetooth oranother 802.x wireless communication standard with the remote radardetector to acquire information about radar warnings, and the power cordassembly generates warnings on the display of the power sourceattachment. Further, the power source attachment communicates with astored lookup table or map to suppress radar warnings in the event thata detected signal correlates to a rejectable signal, and may include auser interface such as a mute button, usable to store false signallocations when identified by the user via that user interface.

Turning now to FIGS. 9-15, as many of these figures include itemsalready discussed hereinabove in connection with FIGS. 1-8D, thesediscussions will not be repeated but are applicable to FIGS. 9-15 aswell. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the detector 20 includes a GSMcellular data modem 200 embedded within the detector 20 for bothreceiving and transmitting data, instead of an operable connection withan external mobile telephone (e.g., mobile 62 discussed in connectionwith FIG. 3) for receiving and transmitting data.

Those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that by embedding themodem 200 in the detector 20, data may be continuously transmitted fromthe radar detector to a server, analyzed at the server, and pooled intoa master remote database on the server. In turn, the radar detector mayreceive pertinent updated data on coordinates, designations ofcoordinates (e.g., as a threat or false alert), software updates, amongother data, from the remote database on the server, all in real-time,and potentially without any human interaction after the initialinstallation of the radar detector in the vehicle.

Indeed, the detector 20 may be able to receive real-time data aboutfalse alerts and threats without having to utilize the mobile 62 toconnect the detector 20 to the server, without having to physicallyconnect the mobile 62 to the detector 20, without having to ensure themobile 62 is charged and operational, without having to deal with cablesto connect the mobile 62 to the detector 20, without connecting thedetector 20 (or part thereof) to any other device for data (e.g.,software updates, data on false alert, data on threats), etc. Forexample, in Europe, users generally have to plug their detectors to acomputer via USB to find retrieve data on the threats (e.g., data on thecameras that are on for that day), but such user intervention may beavoided or greatly reduced by the embodiments discussed herein.Furthermore, a large database at the detector 20, with data that is notupdated (i.e., stale), may be avoided or at least minimized as a muchsmaller database and/or storage may be maintained at detector 20 withthe updated data received in real-time. Moreover, the detector 20 may beupdated with data that is more pertinent to the driver such as dataabout speed traps or false alarms or alerts within a certain radius ofthe detector 20 as these are positions the user is more likely toencounter then speed traps or false alerts five states away. Indeed, itmay not be productive to store data for every door opener in the countryas the driver will likely not be encountering such distant openers.

Turning first to the GSM cellular data modem 200 of FIG. 9, although aGSM type of cellular data modem is utilized as the modem 200, such neednot be the case in other embodiments. For example, a different typemodem may be utilized such as a different type of cellular data modem orbi-directional paging or any other bi-directional communications device.However, it may be beneficial to use a GSM type of cellular data modembecause GSM, which stands for Global System for Mobile communications,is an international standard and a GSM cellular data modem willtypically work anywhere where the GSM standard is supported (e.g., withminor adjustments such as switching a Subscriber Identity Module(hereinafter “SIM”) card). However, as will be discussed further belowin connection with the Jasper Wireless list, not all GSM cellular datamodems in the United States function outside of the United States (e.g.,due to GSM operating at different MHz in different countries). Thus, theGSM cellular data modem 200 in the detector 20 should be selected so asto function in the country where the radar detector 20 will be utilized(e.g., in the United States). Further, the detector 20 may have morethan one GSM cellular data modem in some embodiments, for example, toaccount for these differences.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the GSM cellular data modem 200 is coupled tothe processor 22. The processor 22 generally controls all functions ofthe detector 20, including controlling all the functions of the modem200 such as controlling the modem 200 to receive and/or transmit data.Under control of the processor 22, the modem 200 receives and transmitsdata, and the processor 22 may process the data received by the modem200 and the processor 22 may provide data to the modem 200 fortransmission. Indeed, incoming and outgoing arrows are illustrated inFIG. 9 between the modem 200 and the processor 22 to emphasize that thedetector 20 is capable of two way communication such that the detector20 may receive data through the modem 200 for the processor 22 (e.g., tostore the data in the flash memory of the flash memory slot 50 or evenin the EEPROM 36) and/or may transmit data of the processor 22 throughthe modem 200 (e.g., to the remote database 72 illustrated in FIGS.10-12). The two way communication capability will be discussed furtherin connection with FIG. 10.

The processor 22 may be implemented in hardware using circuit logicdisposed on one or more physical integrated circuit devices (e.g., oneor more circuit boards), or chips. Although the processor 22 isillustrated as a single processor, the processor 22 may be a pluralityof processors. If the fusion processor 22 is a plurality of processors,the modem 200 may be coupled, for example, to each of the processors inthe plurality of processors.

Like a mobile telephone, the modem 200 may include a SIM card (notshown) with the user's subscription information and may even have acellular phone number associated with it. The SIM card is a smallremovable disk that slips in and out of the GSM cellular data modem 200and may include all the connection data and identification numbers foraccessing a particular wireless service provider, such as AT&T Inc.(hereinafter “AT&T”). The modem 200 may also have a circuit-switcheddata (CSD) service from a wireless service provider, such as AT&T,associated with it.

The modem 200 may be from the list of certified modules and certifiedintegrated devices at the website of Jasper Wireless, Inc. (hereinafter“Jasper Wireless”) at www.jasperwireless.com. Jasper Wireless has thefollowing contact information for its U.S. office: Jasper Wireless,Inc., 501 Macara Avenue, Suite 202, Sunnyvale, Calif. 94085, Tel: +1 408328 5200, Fax: +1 408-328-5201. Jasper Wireless has the followingcontact information for its European office: Jasper Wireless, Ltd., 176St Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5SG, United Kingdom, Tel: +44 (0) 141 2496780, Fax: +44 (0) 141 249 6700. The certified modules on the JasperWireless list, for example, may include a modem and are deployed on theJasper Wireless Platform. Thus, the modem 200 may be a standalone modem,part of a module, part of a modified module, a device, part of a device,part of modified, etc., for example, from the Jasper Wireless list ofcertified modules and certified devices but need not be from the JasperWireless list of certified modules and certified devices. Those ofordinary skill in the art may appreciate that use of a certified moduleand/or certified device from the Jasper Wireless list, for example, maylead to speedier implementation of the detector 20 of FIGS. 9-15.

Specifically, for deployment in the United States, Jasper Wirelessrequires that modules be AT&T certified, and the Jasper Wireless listincludes a variety of AT&T certified modules for deployment on theJasper Wireless Platform, including Enfora GSM0104, GSM0108, GSM0113,GSM0204, GSM0208, GSM0304, GSM0308, and GSM0404. The list also includescertified modules of Cinterion, Ericsson, Motorola, Novatel, Option,Qualcomm, Siena Wireless, Telit, and Wavecom. Jasper Wireless also hasadditional modules that it has certified for deployment outside of theUnited States, including modules of Cinterion (Siemens), Enfora (e.g.,GSM2218 and GSM 1218), Sony Ericsson, Ericsson, Sagem, SIMCom, Telit,Wavecom, and iWow. The list also includes integrated devices certifiedfor the Jasper Wireless Platform, including integrated devices ofCalAMP, Dejavoo, Digital Communications Technologies, Enfora, FalcomUSA, Gemalto, Hypercom, Ingenico/Sagem, MultiTech, Noval, NovaTracker,Prolificx, Janus RemoteCommunications, Scope Logistical Solution,TechTrex, Trimble, Wavecom, and VeriFone. Seehttp://www.jasperwireless.com/platform/certified-devices.html.

Also, u-blox America, Inc. (hereinafter “u-blox”), at www.u-biox.com,may be contacted for hardware for development. According to its website,u-blox is a fabless semiconductor provider of embedded positioning andwireless communication solutions for the consumer, industrial andautomotive markets that enables people, devices, vehicles and machinesto locate their exact position and wirelessly communicate via voice,text or video. The following is the contact information for the headU.S. office: u-blox America, Inc., 1902 Campus Commons Drive Suite 310,Reston, Va. 20191, USA, info_us@u-biox.com, Phone +1 (703) 483 3180, Fax+1 (703) 483 3179. U-blox has other locations around the world.

Data suppliers that may be contacted include AT&T and Juniper Networks.AT&T, at http://www.att.com/, has the following as the contactinformation for its headquarters: AT&T Inc., 175 E. Houston St., SanAntonio, Tex. 78205. At&T has other locations around the world. JuniperNetworks, at http://www.juniper.net/us/en/, has the following as thecontact information for its headquarters: 1194 North Mathilda Avenue,Sunnyvale, Calif. 94089-1206 USA, Phone: 888-JUNIPER (888-586-4737),408-745-2000, Fax: 408-745-2100. Juniper Networks has other locationsaround the world.

Thus, the modem 200 of the detector 20 of the embodiment of FIG. 9 maybe a certified module (or modification thereof) from the Jasper Wirelesslist that is added to the circuit board or chip of the processor 22 fordeployment on the Jasper Wireless Platform, or the hardware may beobtained from u-blox, and AT&T or Juniper may serve as the wirelessservice provider for the transmitting and providing data to the GSMsystem using GSM technology. However, those of ordinary skill in the artwill appreciate that there may be other ways of implementing thedetector 20 with the embedded modem 200. Indeed, u-blox also has aportfolio of GPS modules, cards, chips, and software solutions togetherwith wireless modules and solutions, thus, those of ordinary skill inthe art may appreciate that a module of u-blox (or modification thereof)or a module (or modification thereof) of some other provider, forexample, may be utilized for the modem 200 instead of the certifiedmodules from the Jasper Wireless list.

Turning to FIG. 10, this figure illustrates a block diagram of thedetector 20 of FIG. 9 in a vehicle environment. Although only a singleradar detector 20 is shown for simplicity in these and other figures,those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that multiple radardetectors 20 will generally be present in the environment. Specifically,the detector 20 includes the GSM cellular data modem 200 embedded withinthe detector 20 for both receiving and/or transmitting data to theremote database 72 through a communication network such as the telephonecommunication network 68 (e.g., GSM or CDMA2000 protocol) and/or theInternet communication network 70 (e.g., WiFi, Zigbee, EDGE, or 3G).EDGE refers to Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution technology,providing enhancements to GSM networks, and may use the same structureas GSM networks. As such, this may allow EDGE to be overlaid directlyonto an existing GSM network (e.g., via a software-upgrade). The remotedatabase 72 may be located at a server such as server 300 (FIG. 11). Thedetector 20 via the modem 200 is capable of direct real-time two waycommunication through the telephone communication network 68 and/orInternet communication network 70 with server 300, which contains theremote database 72. The detector 20 or various detectors 20 and theserver 300 may be considered a system, and will be discussed further inconnection with FIG. 11.

Specifically, the detector 20 includes the modem 200 embedded within thedetector 20 for directly receiving and transmitting data, instead of anoperable connection with an external mobile telephone 68 for receivingand transmitting the data (illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3). The modem200 is capable of direct two way communication in a real-time mannerthrough the telephone communication network 68 and/or Internetcommunication network 70 with the remote database 72 at the server 300.Although the term real-time is being utilized for simplicity, real-timealso may include near real time, which refers to the slight delay thatmay be introduced by automated data processing and/or networktransmission between when an event occurs and use of the processed datafor display and control purposes.

As the modem 200 embedded within the detector 20 is replacing theexternal mobile telephone 68 that was connected to the detector 20, themodem 200 performs some or all of the functions of the mobile telephone68. For example, the modem 200 may be responsible for converting digitaldata into radio signals for outgoing communication and/or convertingradio signals to digital signals for incoming communication. Thus,receiving and transmitting data by the modem 200 may requireconversions. To that end, the modem 200 may include a DSP (not shown)such as DSP 26, discussed in connection with FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, to carryout the conversions. Alternatively, the conversions may be performedelsewhere in the detector 20, for example, the modern 200, under controlof the processor 22 (FIG. 9) may relay radio signals it receives to theDSP 26 to carry out the conversions. The modem 200 may also include anantenna (not shown) for receiving and transmitting data.

The remote database 72 at the server 300 may store transmitted GPScoordinates of an observed radar encounter or a detected radar encountersuch as a speed trap transmitted by the detector 20 or other detector.As discussed above in connection with FIG. 3, an observed radarencounter is a situation when the user notices a speed trap, trafficcamera, or other mechanism designed for purposes of ticket revenue ortraffic deterrence instead of safety that may or may not be emittingradar. A speed trap may be defined as a location where the policeenforce the speed limit. Alternatively, a speed trap may be defined as aroad section where police have a reputation for writing an unusuallyhigh number of traffic tickets, the posted speed limits are not easilyseen, or the speed limits are set much lower than a road engineeringsurvey may suggest. For simplicity, these will be referred to as threatsor threat designations if a user designates them as threats. On theother hand, door openers or other sources that might falsely trigger analert will be referred to a false alerts or false alert designations ifthe user designates them as false alerts.

Turning to FIG. 11, FIG. 11 may be thought of as illustrative of aclient-server system or environment. The client-server system orenvironment may include at least one client (e.g., the detector 20 maybe considered a client as well as any other detectors that communicatewith the server computer 300) and at least one server (e.g., the servercomputer 300). The system includes at least one apparatus, e.g., one ormore clients in the form of the detector 20 and one or more servers inthe form of the server computer 300. The computer 300 may representpractically any type of computer, computer system or other programmableelectronic device capable of functioning as a server in a client-serverenvironment. For example, in specific embodiments, the computer 300 maybe a computer, computer system, computing device, disk array, orprogrammable device such as a multi-user computer, a single-usercomputer, a handheld device, a networked device (including a computer ina cluster configuration), a mobile phone, a video game console (or othergaming system), etc. Moreover, the computer 300 may be implemented usingone or more networked computers, e.g., in a cluster or other distributedcomputing system. Further, as is common in many client-server systems,typically multiple clients (i.e., multiple detectors 20) will beinterfaced with the server computer 300. However, given the nature ofcomputer 300 as a server, in many instances computer 300 may beimplemented using a multi-user computer such as a server computer, amidrange computer, a mainframe, etc. As a result, the specifications ofthe CPU's, memories, mass storage, user interfaces and networkinterfaces may vary between the computer 300 and the detector 20 toaccommodate the possibly higher demands on the computer 300. Otherhardware environments are contemplated within the context of theinvention.

Computer 300 typically includes a central processing unit (CPU) 326including at least one microprocessor coupled to a memory 328, which mayrepresent the random access memory (RAM) devices comprising the mainstorage of computer 300, as well as any supplemental levels of memory,e.g., cache memories, non-volatile or backup memories (e.g.,programmable or flash memories), read-only memories, etc. The remotedatabase 72 may be resident in the memory 328. The CPU 326 is typicallyimplemented in hardware using circuit logic disposed on one or morephysical integrated circuit devices, or chips. Thus, the computer 300may include at least one hardware-based processor. The CPU 326 may beone or more microprocessors, micro-controllers, field programmable gatearrays, or ASICs, while memory 328 may include random access memory(RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory(SRAM), flash memory, and/or another digital storage medium, typicallyimplemented using circuit logic disposed on one or more physicalintegrated circuit devices, or chips. As such, the memory 328 may beconsidered to include memory storage physically located elsewhere in thecomputer 300, e.g., any cache memory in a processor in the CPU 326, aswell as any storage capacity used as a virtual memory, e.g., as storedon a mass storage device 330 or on another computer coupled to thecomputer 300. The computer 300 also typically receives a number ofinputs and outputs for communicating information externally. Forinterface with a user or operator, computer 300 typically includes auser interface 332 incorporating one or more user input devices (e.g., akeyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a joystick, a touchpad, and/or amicrophone, among others) and a display (e.g., a CRT monitor, an LCDdisplay panel, and/or a speaker, among others). Otherwise, user inputmay be received via another computer or terminal or from the modem 200of the detector 20. Likewise, the computer 300 may output data andtransmit it to the modem 200 of the detector 20.

For additional storage, the computer 300 may also include one or moremass storage devices 330, e.g., a floppy or other removable disk drive,a hard disk drive, a direct access storage device (DASD), an opticaldrive (e.g., a CD drive, a DVD drive, etc.), and/or a tape drive, amongothers. Furthermore, the computer 300 may include an interface 334 withone or more networks (e.g., a LAN, a WAN, a wireless network, theInternet (e.g., the Internet communication network 70), WiFi, Zigbee,EDGE, or 3G, a cellular or telephone network (e.g., the telephonecommunication network 68), GSM and/or CDMA2000 protocol, among others)to permit the communication of information with other computers,electronic devices, the radar detector 20, multiple radar detectors 20,etc. Communication through the telephone communication network 68 may bein the form of a short message through the short message service (SMS).The communication through the telephone communication network 68 mayalso be in the form of dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF), also known astouchtone. Indeed, the interface 334 may interface with a network thatmay be public and/or private, wireless and/or wired in some aspect,local and/or wide-area, represent multiple interconnected networks, etc.It should be appreciated that the computer 300 typically includessuitable analog and/or digital interfaces between the CPU 326 and eachof the components 328, 330, 332 and 334 as is well known in the art.

The computer 300 operates under the control of an operating system 340,and executes or otherwise relies upon various computer softwareapplications, components, programs, objects, modules, data structures,etc. (e.g. server 344). Moreover, various applications, components,programs, objects, modules, etc. may also execute on one or moreprocessors in another computer coupled to computer 300 via a network,e.g., in a distributed or client-server computing environment, wherebythe processing required to implement the functions of a computer programmay be allocated to multiple computers over a network.

In general, the routines executed to implement the embodiments of theinvention, whether implemented as part of an operating system or aspecific application, component, program, object, module or sequence ofinstructions, or even a subset thereof, will be referred to herein as“computer program code,” or simply “program code.” Program codetypically comprises one or more instructions that are resident atvarious times in various memory and storage devices in a computer, andthat, when read and executed by one or more processors in a computer,cause that computer to perform the steps necessary to execute steps orelements embodying the various aspects of the invention. Moreover, whilethe invention has and hereinafter will be described in the context offully functioning computers and computer systems, those skilled in theart will appreciate that the various embodiments of the invention arecapable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms,and that the invention applies equally regardless of the particular typeof computer readable signal bearing media used to actually carry out thedistribution. Examples of computer readable signal bearing media includebut are not limited to physical and tangible recordable type media suchas volatile and non-volatile memory devices, floppy and other removabledisks, hard disk drives, magnetic tape, optical disks (e.g., CD-ROMs,DVDs, etc.), among others, and transmission type media such as digitaland analog communication links.

In addition, various program code described hereinafter may beidentified based upon the application within which it is implemented ina specific embodiment of the invention. However, it should beappreciated that any particular program nomenclature that is used hereinis merely for convenience, and thus the invention should not be limitedto use solely in any specific application identified and/or implied bysuch nomenclature. Furthermore, given the typically endless number ofmanners in which computer programs may be organized into routines,procedures, methods, modules, objects, and the like, as well as thevarious manners in which program functionality may be allocated amongvarious software layers that are resident within a typical computer(e.g., operating systems, libraries, API's, applications, applets,etc.), it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to thespecific organization and allocation of program functionality describedherein.

Furthermore, the server computer 300 may be a web server computer, suchas the web server computer 400 of FIG. 12, or some other type of servercomputer. Turning to FIG. 12, in a similar manner to the computer 300,the web server computer 400 of FIG. 12 may include CPU 326, memory 328,mass storage 330, user interface 332, network interface 334, operatingsystem 340, and the remote database 72 as discussed in connection withthe computer 300 of FIG. 11. For example, the CPU 326 of the web servercomputer 400 may likewise include at least one hardware-based processor,with the CPU 326 is implemented in hardware using circuit logic disposedon one or more physical integrated circuit devices, or chips. Indeed,the CPU 326 of the web server computer 400 may be one or moremicroprocessors, micro-controllers, field programmable gate arrays, orASICs, while the memory 328 of the web server computer 400 may includerandom access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), staticrandom access memory (SRAM), flash memory, and/or another digitalstorage medium, typically implemented using circuit logic disposed onone or more physical integrated circuit devices, or chips. Similarly,the remote database 72 may be resident in the memory 328 of the webserver computer 400. Furthermore, the web server computer 400 operatesunder the control of the operating system 340, and executes or otherwiserelies upon various computer software applications, components,programs, objects, modules, data structures, etc. (e.g. web server 444).

In general, the discussion hereinabove for computer 300 (FIG. 11) isapplicable to the discussion of the web server computer 400, with themain difference being that the web server 444 replaces the servercomputer 400 to provide web-based connections. The server 344 and theweb server 444 may generally be considered to include any program coderesident on a computer or other programmable electronic device that iscapable of servicing requests and/or analysis in a distributed computersystem. Additionally, the server 344 and web server 444 may beconsidered to include the hardware associated with each (e.g., thecomputer 300 and the server computer 400, respectively) as well as thesoftware (e.g., program code).

Additionally, with the web server computer 400, the network interface334 of the web server computer 400 may be more likely to interface withthe Internet communication network 70 instead of the telephonecommunication network 68. As such, the telephone communication network68 is illustrated in phantom. However, there may be some embodimentswhere the network interface 334 of the web server computer 400 may stillinterface with both the Internet communication network 70 and thetelephone communication network 68 as illustrated in FIG. 11, or simplyinterface with the telephone communication network 68.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the exemplary environmentsillustrated in FIGS. 10-12 are not intended to limit the presentinvention. Indeed, those skilled in the art will recognize that otheralternative hardware and/or software environments may be used withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. For example, although a webserver 44 is utilized herein, those of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that another server and/or server computer may be utilized.Furthermore, although only a single radar detector 20 is shown forsimplicity in these figures, those of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that multiple radar detectors 20 may communicate with theserver 300 and/or the web server 400, and that the server 300 and/or theweb server 400 may communicate with multiple radar detectors 20.

In the context of the embodiments discussed hereinabove, thecommunication between the detector 20, with the embedded modem 200, andthe remote database 72 of the server computer 300 and/or the web servercomputer 400 involves the user operatively indicating to the detector 20that the present detection (observed or detected) should be designatedas a false alert or as a threat. This may be done with a switch, remotebutton, or by a button located on the detector 20. Once the useroperatively designates a detection as a false alert, for example, undercontrol of the processor 22, the modem 200 of the detector 20 maycommunicate in real-time the particular parameters of the false alert,such as the coordinates of the false alert and data related to thecoordinates such as an indication of the false alert designation, to theserver computer 300 and/or the web server computer 400 to the remotedatabase 72. The detector 20 is able to obtain the GPS coordinates ofthe detection by communications between satellites 64, beacons (notshown), the DGPS receiver 34 and GPS receiver 32 of the detector 20. Thecommunication between the modem 200 and the remote database 72 may beaccomplished through the telephone communication network 68 such as aGSM or CDMA2000 protocol 72 and/or accomplished through the Internetcommunication 70 through WiFi, Zigbee, EDGE, or 3G.

The server computer 300 and/or the web server computer 400 may analyzethe received parameters from the detector 20 (and other detectors) inreal-time (e.g., at the CPU 326), for example, to determine if the falsealert designation at the coordinates received from the detector 20 hasbeen received a sufficient number of times (e.g., via a counter saved inthe remote database 72) from different radar detectors 20. If so, theserver computer 300 and/or the web server computer 400 transmits anotification (e.g., transmitting the coordinates and perhaps anindication of the false alert designation and/or data that would muteand/or forgo alerting at the coordinates of the false alert designation)to all the radar detectors within a radius, where the coordinates of thefalse alert fall within that radius. Alternatively, it may transmit tothose that have not designated these coordinates as a false alert withinthe radius. Likewise, a threat designation may be performed in a similarmanner, with the server computer 300 and/or the web server computer 400transmitting the coordinates and may also data related to thecoordinates such as an indication of the threat designation.Furthermore, an indication about whether the coordinates of the locationof the detector 20, the heading, and/or the speed may also betransmitted.

Regarding the radius, each radar detector may continuously transmit tothe server computer 300 and/or the web server computer 400 its location(e.g., GPS coordinates), heading, and/or speed data for storage in theremote database 72, and the server computer 300 and/or the web servercomputer 400 may determine which radar detectors are within the radiusbased on the continuously received data. Regarding the remote database72, it may serve as a master database or repository for aggregating datareceived from multiple radar detectors, and may include, for example,false alert designations, coordinates of false alert designations,threat designations, coordinates of threat designations, location data,including GPS coordinates, of the radar detector, heading data of theradar detector, speed data of the radar detector, counters, etc. foranalysis by the server computer 300 and/or the web server computer 400such as by the CPU 326 thereof, for example, for comparing counters to athreshold, determining radar detectors within in a radius, etc. Theindications of the designations may be transmitted by either thedetector 20 and/or the server 300 and/or computer 400 to reduceinaccuracies and confusion regarding why specific coordinates are beingtransmitted.

Thus, the detector 20 may not only transmit information to the server300 and/or the web server 400, but it may also receive data at theembedded modem 200 from the server computer 300 and/or the web servercomputer 400 from the remote database 72. This data may communicate thelocation of false alerts or speed traps and/or threats that otherdetector users have observed and reported. By broadcasting the GPScoordinates through Internet communication network 70 and/or telephonecommunication network 68 to the modem 200 of the detector 20, the servercomputer 300 and/or the web server computer 400 containing the remotedatabase 72 is able to send information to the detector 20 and otherswithin the radius. This information may include the GPS coordinates offalse alert designations and/or threat designations indicated by otherdetector users such that the information that is more pertinent to adriver is received at their corresponding detector. This feature canprovide real time data to detector users and alert them to proceed withease or proceed with caution. Similarly, the server computer 300 and/orthe web server computer 400 may transmit software updates to the radardetectors.

All of the receive information by the modem of the radar detector 20 maybe stored in the flash memory of slot 50 (FIG. 9) or even in the EEPROM36 (FIG. 9) of the detector. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in theart may appreciate that as real-time pertinent data will be receivedfrom the server computer 300 and/or the web server computer 400, thestorage of the detector 20 may be smaller, instead of a larger storagethat has out of date or stale data, and smaller storage may lead toreduction in cost and/or allow for faster searches of the storage andimprove the reaction time of the detector 20. Although the inclusion ofan embedded modem 200 within the detector 20 may increase the cost ofthe detector 20, the modem 200 may in turn lead to smaller data storagerequirements.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that the radar detector 20 may alsoperform other tasks discussed in connection with FIGS. 1-8D such asusing the coordinates of a detected signal obtained by the receivers 32,34, the detector 20 is able to determine whether the detected signal canbe correlated with a signal detected in a previous radar detectionencounter. But as described herein, the radar detector 20 may furtherdetermine if data was received from the server 300 and/or the web server400 regarding the coordinates of this detected signal and the whether awarning or alert should or should not be issued by the detector 20 viathe processor 22 (FIG. 9). As such, the detector 20 and the server 300and/or the web server 400 may be in real-time communication with eachother receiving and transmitting information, without human intervention(e.g., except for the potential intervention by a user designating afalse alert or a threat), that may improve accuracy and improve theexperience of the user.

Turning now to FIG. 13, this figure illustrates an exemplary false alertdesignation routine 501 with a plurality of radar detectors 500, 502,504, 506, with each similar to the radar detector 20, and with eachhaving an embedded modem such as the modem 200 illustrated in FIGS.9-12. These detectors may be in real-time two communication with servercomputer 514, which is similar to the server computer 300 and/or the webserver computer 400. For ease of understanding, a step of the routine501 (or a step of the other routines 601 and 701 in FIGS. 14-15)illustrated in the radar detectors 500, 502, 504, 506 or in the servercomputer 514 is meant to indicate that the step may be performed in thatitem. Although only four radar detectors are illustrated for simplicity,those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many moredetectors may be in real-time two way communication with the servercomputer 514.

Starting with block 508 in the detector 500, the detector 500 may alertthe user of a detected signal. For example, the detector 500 may nothave any other information on the coordinates of the detected signal orthis may be the first time any of the detectors in communication withthe server computer 514, including detector 500, have detected a signalat these coordinates, and as such, the detector 500 alerts the user ofthe detected signal. If the user learns that the detected signal is afalse alert, the user may give it a false alert designation by mutingthe alert at block 510, and an indication of the false alert designationand the coordinates may be transmitted automatically to the servercomputer 514 at block 512. It is worth noting that it may beadvantageous to transmit both the coordinates of the false alertdesignation as well as the false alert designation indication to reduceinaccuracies among all the coordinates that will be transmitted from thevarious detectors at various times to the server computer 514. However,in some embodiments, the false alert designation indication may beomitted and only the coordinates may be transmitted. Returning to block510, if the user does not designate the detected signal as a falsealert, then the detector 500 may simply continue to operate as usual.

Next, the server computer 514 receives the indication of the false alertdesignation and the coordinates at block 516, and control passes toblock 518 to determine whether a false alert designation, or morespecifically an indication of the false alert designation, has beenpreviously received for the received coordinates. The terms false alertdesignation, an indication of the false alert designation, and falsealert designation indication in the context of the server should betreated synonymously. Returning to the block 518, if not, and this isthe first false alert designation indication for the coordinates, then acounter of false alerts may be started for the coordinates at block 520.As such, the server computer 514 may begin to keep track of the numberof false alerts received for these coordinates. The higher the counter,the more likely it may be that the coordinates truly reflect a falsealert. The counter may be stored in the remote database 72 (illustratedin FIGS. 10-11) in block 522, and control then may pass to block 516 toreceive more false alert designations indications and coordinates. Otherinformation may also be stored in the database 72 besides the counter,such as the coordinates, the false alert designation indication, as wellas an identifier of the radar detector that transmitted the coordinatesand the false alert designation indication. However, no data may need tobe issued by the server computer 514 as a single false alert designationfor the coordinates may not be very accurate.

Turning back to block 518, if a false alert designation indication hasbeen previously received for the received coordinates, then block 524determines whether the radar detector that transmitted the false alertdesignation indication just received by the server computer 514 haspreviously transmitted any false alert designations for thesecoordinates. If so, then the false alert designation just received maybe ignored at block 526 as multiple false designations for the samecoordinates from the same radar detector may be indicative of a userthat is trying to manipulate the accuracy of the data. For example, thischeck is performed to reduce the chances that a single user (e.g., apolice officer) or group of users will misuse their respective radardetectors to manipulate the server computer 514 into transmitting datathat certain coordinates and perhaps the indication of the false alertdesignation which in turn would cause the detectors receiving thecoordinates and false alert designation indication to not issue awarning. If the false alert data received by the detectors is a fake, itmay cause users receiving those alerts at their radar detectors toreceive speeding tickets at those coordinates. Further, once a userdesignates a detected signal as a false alert in his or her radardetector, then the radar detector will subsequently not issue a warningand mute or forgo an alert at the location, thus, there is generally noreason for the user to keep designating the same coordinates as a falsealert.

Returning to block 524, if the false alert designation that was justreceived was not previously received from the same radar detector, thencontrol may pass to block 528 to increment the counter of false alertsassociated with these coordinates. Next, the counter is updated andstored in the database at block 530, and as another check, the updatedcounter is compared to a threshold at block 532. The updated counter iscompared to a threshold to ensure that a sufficient number of falsealert designations have been received by the server computer 514 beforetransmitting data to the detectors, as a low quantity of false alertdesignations received from radar detectors may not be as accurate.Further, use of the threshold may also help reduce the chances of agroup of users, for example, using different radar detectors, frommanipulation the notifications of the server computer 514. The thresholdmay set using statistics. For example, the selected threshold may beselected based on analysis and statistics that indicate that theselected threshold is associated with high accuracy in terms of thewarnings given or not given by the radar detectors based upon thereceived data from the server 514. Alternatively, the selected thresholdmay be associated with low chances of manipulation. The threshold may beset and revised as deemed necessary (e.g., to increase accuracy and/oravoid manipulation) automatically by the server computer 514 and/or byan administrator in charge of the server computer 514.

In general, radar detectors and their users will not be able to alterthe threshold so as to avoid errors and reduce the chances ofmanipulation. Although the checks are meant to improve accuracy andreduce the chances of manipulation, those of ordinary skill in the artwill appreciate that there may still be some inaccuracies, but overall,the routine 501 (and others described herein) may improve accuracy byreducing the number of false alerts at coordinates that users are likelyto encounter.

Returning to block 532, if the counter is not more than the threshold,then control may pass to block 516, without issuing a notification, forthe server computer 514 to continue to receive false alert designationsand coordinates. On the other hand, if the updated counter is more thanthe threshold, then control may pass to block 534 to determine whichradar detectors are within a radius of the coordinates of the falsealert designation, in other words, whether the coordinates fall withinthe radius of which detectors. The determination of which radardetectors are within the radius may be based on the location, heading,and/or speed data transmitted to the server computer 514 from block 536of detector 500, block 538 of detector 502, block 540 of detector 504,and block 542 of detector 506. This information is received by theserver computer 514 and utilized at block 534. This data may becontinuously received from the various detectors, transmitted atspecific intervals such as every ten seconds, dependant on networktraffic or network speed, etc. This data may also be transmitted andreceived with an identifier of the corresponding radar detector toreduce inaccuracies, for example, by not attributing the data ofdetector 502 to detector 504. However, it may not be necessary totransmit an identifier of the corresponding radar detector, for example,if that radar detector is the only one in a certain area, then thelocation, heading, and/or speed data received by the server computer 514is likely being transmitted by that detector and not another detector.Similarly, new data received that is consistent or in the same vicinityas a location, heading, and/or speed data previously received for adetector likely may mean that the new data is from that radar detector.Further, if a certain detector uniquely transmits location, heading,and/or speed data every eight seconds, for example, then location,heading, and/or speed data received every eight seconds is likely tobelong to that radar detector. However, those of ordinary skill in theart may appreciate that the more radar detectors transmitting to theserver computer 514, then precautions should likely be put in place(e.g., transmitting the location, heading, and/or speed and anidentifier of the associated radar detector) to the server computer 514to reduce inaccuracies.

Regarding the radius, the radius may be a couple of miles (e.g., tenmiles) around the radar detectors 500, 502, 504, 506, with the radardetector in the center of the radius. As the user drives, the radiusmoves with the moving vehicle and the radar detector within the vehicle,and the server computer 514 transmits data regarding the coordinates offalse alerts falling within that radius. The radius may be, for example,forty miles around a radar detector such that data regarding the nextfifty coordinates in the forty mile radius are transmitted to the radardetector. In general, the radius may be selected such as to provide theuser with enough data regarding coordinates he or she is likely toencounter so that the radar detector has up to date pertinentinformation, and as such, the radar detector may use smaller datastorage as it is only receiving and storing data from the servercomputer 514 that is pertinent. Thus, receiving and storing local dataregarding coordinates in the radius around the radar detector, and notwasting space and resources on data outside the radius that is likelynot pertinent to the user at that time. Indeed, real-time data from thesever computer 514 may be continuously transmitted to the detectors 500,502, 504, 506 for coordinates within the radius. However, it is worthnoting that network traffic or other issues may affect how far a userdrives without receiving data. Furthermore, if the server computer 514does not need to make any notifications regarding coordinates in theradius, there may be no need for the server computer 514 to transmitdata to that detector.

The exact radius may be selected based on statistics, may be dependenton network traffic or network speed or constraints, dependent on auser's particular average driving distance, dependent on the averagedriving distance of multiple users, dependent on the number ofcoordinates with data in the area, etc. For example, the radius may bean average distance driven by users based on the location, heading,and/or speed data transmitted to and received by the server computer514. The same radius may be applied across all the radar detectors (asillustrated in FIG. 13, block 534) or different radiuses may be utilized(e.g., the radius for the detector 504 may be different than the radiusutilized for detector 506).

Next, control passes to block 544 to send the false alert designationand the coordinates to the radar detectors within the radius of thecoordinates. In this example, all of detectors 506, 504, 502, 500 arewithin the radius, and as such, each of them may be receive data fromthe server computer 514 at their respective embedded modem. Each modemis under control of the corresponding processor to receive the data, andthe corresponding processor may not issue a warning and mute and/orforgo alerting at the coordinates of the false alert designation atblocks 546, 548, 550, 552. The received data may be stored in the flashmemory of slot 50 (FIG. 9) or even the EEPROM 36 (FIG. 9) of eachdetector by the corresponding processor. However, as the detector 500has already designated these coordinates as a false alert, it may not benecessary to notify detector 500 (or other detectors that alsodesignated these coordinates as false alert based upon the data in theserver 514) as the user of detector 500 is already aware of the falsealert, especially since the server computer 514 may already keep trackof the radar detectors for which it has received false alertdesignations for these coordinates. But it may be more simple totransmit data to all detectors in the radius that are in communicationwith the server computer 514. As such, the block 552 indicates that itis optional.

Turning to the exemplary threat designation routine 601 of FIG. 14, thisroutine is similar to routine 501 of FIG. 13, and illustrates the samefour radar detectors labeled as detectors 600, 602, 604, 606, akin tothe detectors 500, 502, 504, 506, respectively, and the same servercomputer labeled as server computer 614, akin to the server computer514. Starting with block 610, the user may give a specific position athreat designation to indicate a speed trap, camera, etc. by a switch,remote button, or by a button located on the detector, and the threatdesignation indication and the coordinates may be transmittedautomatically to the server computer 614 at block 612. It is worthnoting that it may be advantageous to transmit both the coordinates ofthe threat designation as well as the threat designation indication toreduce inaccuracies among all the coordinates that will be transmittedfrom the various detectors and received by the server computer 614.However, in some embodiments, the threat designation indication may beomitted and only the coordinates may be transmitted. Returning to block610, if the user does not designate the detected signal as a threat,then the detector 600 may simply continue to operate as usual.

Next, the server computer 614 receives the threat designation indicationand the coordinates at block 616, and control passes to block 618 todetermine whether a threat designation has been previously received forthe received coordinates. If not, and this is the first threatdesignation for the coordinates, then a counter of threats may bestarted for the coordinates at block 620. As such, the server computer614 may begin to keep track of the number of threats received for thesecoordinates. The higher the counter, the more likely it may be that thecoordinates truly reflect a threat. The counter may be stored in theremote database 72 (illustrated in FIGS. 10-11) in block 622, andcontrol then may pass to bock 516 to receive more threat designationsand coordinates. Other information may also be stored in the database 72including the coordinates, the threat designation indication, as well asan identifier of the radar detector that transmitted the coordinates andthe threat designation indication. However, no data may need to beissued by the server computer 614 to any of the detectors as a singlethreat designation for the coordinates may not be very accurate.

Returning back to block 618, if a threat designation has been previouslyreceived for the received coordinates, then block 624 determines whetherthe radar detector that transmitted the threat designation just receivedby the server computer 614 has previously transmitted any threatdesignations for these coordinates. If so, then the threat designationsjust received may be ignored at block 626 as multiple threatdesignations for the same coordinates from the same radar detector maybe indicative of a user that is trying to manipulate the accuracy of thedata.

Returning to block 624, if the threat designation that was just receivedwas not previously received from the same radar detector, then controlmay pass to block 628 to increment the counter of threats associatedwith these coordinates. Next, the counter is updated and stored in thedatabase at block 630, and as another check, the updated counter iscompared to a threshold at block 632.

Returning to block 632, if the counter is not more than the threshold,then control may pass to block 616, without issuing a notification, forthe server computer 614 to continue to receive threat designations andcoordinates. On the other hand, if the updated counter is more than thethreshold, then control may pass to block 634 to determine which radardetectors are within a radius of the coordinates of the threatdesignation. The determination of which radar detectors are within theradius is based on the location, heading, and/or speed data transmittedto the server computer 614 from block 636 of detector 600, block 638 ofdetector 602, block 640 of detector 604, and block 642 of detector 606.This information is received by the server computer 614 and utilized atblock 634.

Next, control passes to block 644 to send the threat designation and thecoordinates to the radar detectors within the radius of the coordinates.In this example, all of detectors 606, 604, 602, 600 are within theradius, and as such, each of them may be receive at their respectiveembedded modems data from the server computer 614. Each modem is undercontrol of the processor to receive the data, and each processor mayissue a warning to alert the user at the coordinates of the threatdesignation at blocks 646, 648, 650, 652, respectively. The receiveddata may be stored in the flash memory of slot 50 (FIG. 9) or even theEEPROM 36 (FIG. 9) of each detector. However, as the detector 600 hasalready designated these coordinates as a threat, it may not benecessary to notify detector 600 (or other detectors that alsodesignated these coordinates as threat) as the user of detector 600 isalready aware of the threat, especially since the server computer 614may already keep track of the radar detectors for which it has receivedthreat designations for these coordinates. But it may be more simple totransmit the data to all detectors in the radius that are incommunication with the server computer 614. As such, the block 652indicates that it is optional.

Furthermore, in each of the transmission between from a detector to theserver or from the server to the detector it may be advantageous to alsotransmit some data related to the coordinates and not just simply thecoordinates to reduce inaccuracies, but the coordinates alone may betransmitted. Indeed, as the server computer 514, 614 may be receivingcoordinates associated with different events such as false designations,threat designations, and the continuous location data of each detector,it may be advantageous for the detectors, and specifically the modemsembedded therein, to transmit data related to the coordinates, forexample, such as an indication of the type of the event associated withthe transmitted coordinates to reduce inaccuracies. Likewise, it may beadvantageous for the server computer 514, 614 to transmit its data withat least an indication of the type of the event (e.g., threatdesignation or false alert designation) associated with the transmittedcoordinates to reduce inaccuracies. For example, it may be beneficial toalso transmit an identifier of the detector with the heading data or thespeed data, for example, However, transmitting an indication of theevent connected with the transmitted coordinates may not be necessary insome embodiments, for example, if the event can be deduced.

Further, it is worth noting that although various checks are included inroutine 601 and 501 (FIG. 13) to reduce inaccuracies and limitmanipulation, some or all the checks may be omitted in some embodiments.In such cases, the detectors, with their embedded modems, may be inreal-time two way communication with the server computer and simplyreceive and transmit data without the checks.

Turning to the exemplary update routine 701 of FIG. 15, this routineillustrates the same four radar detectors labeled as detectors 700, 702,704, 706, akin to the radar detectors 500, 502, 504, 506 of FIG. 13 andthe radar detectors 600, 602, 604, 606 of FIG. 14, respectively, and thesame server computer labeled as server computer 708, akin to the servercomputer 514 of FIG. 13 and the server computer 614 of FIG. 14.Specifically, the server computer 708 may transmit a software update tothe radar detectors 700, 702, 704, 706 at block 710. In particular, thesoftware update may be transmitted from the remote database of theserver, under control of the processor of the server 614, to each radardetector in communication with the server computer 708, and if a radardetector is turned off, for example, the update may be transmitted oncethat radar detector is turned on and communicating with the servercomputer 708. Next, the software update is received from the servercomputer 710 by the embedded modem within each of detected 700, 702,704, 706, specifically, received at block 712 of detector 700, block 714of detector 702, block 716 of detector 704, and block 718 of detector706. The updates may be stored in the flash memory of slot 50 (FIG. 9)or even the EEPROM 36 (FIG. 9) of each detector. Each modem is undercontrol of the processor of the detector to receive the softwareupdates, and the processors implement the updates.

As such, software updates or other types of updates (e.g., firmwareupgrades) may be automatically transmitted, in real-time, from theserver computer 708 to each of detectors 700, 702, 704, 706 without anyuser intervention. For example, the user may have his or her detectorautomatically updated without having to manually remove the radardetector from the vehicle and manually connect it to a computer (e.g.,via USB), which may be cumbersome and/or impractical for some users(e.g., elderly users), and without having to manually insert softwareupdates in any manner. Thus, instead of forgoing software updates due tothe inconvenience or difficulties that may arise with manual updates,the routine 701 may be utilized to automatically update the radardetectors in real-time as often as needed without user intervention.

Additionally, it is worth noting that the routines 501, 601, and/or 701may be utilized in conjunction with each other. For example, the radardetector 500, 600 may be utilized to both transmit false alertdesignations and threat designations, along with the coordinates ofthese. Indeed, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate thatoften times the status of some coordinates may constantly change, forexample, if the police officer is at a position, then users maydesignate it as a threat, and after exceeding the threshold, the servercomputer may transmit the notification of the threat designation withthe coordinates. However, if the police officer leaves thosecoordinates, then users may designate it as a false alert, and afterexceeding the threshold, the server computer may transmit thenotification of the false alert designation with the coordinates.Furthermore, at about the same time, a software update may betransmitted to the detector 500, 600. Alternatively, the opposite mayoccur with the false alert designation first and then the threatdesignation second. Thus, although the routines 501, 601, 701 areillustrated as separate routines for simplicity, the routines may beutilized cooperatively on the four detectors and the server.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments illustrated above areexemplary and not limiting, and that other embodiments of the presentinvention fall within the scope of the appended claims. For example, thefeatures shown in the power cord assembly may be integrated into anunder-dash unit rather than a housing coupled to the power plug. Thevehicle's built-in electronics may also incorporate any or all of thefunctions described. In some embodiments, for example, the detector 20may have both the embedded GSM cellular data modem 200 and also be inoperable connection with the external mobile telephone 62 (FIG. 2).

The invention is thus not limited to the embodiments disclosed but isdefined by the following claims.

1. A police activity warning system, comprising: (a) a police activityradar detector, comprising: a global positioning receiver operable toprovide coordinates for a first position; a modem operable to wirelesslytransmit at least the coordinates of the first position to a serverexternal to the detector, wherein the modem is embedded within thedetector; at least one hardware based processor coupled to the globalpositioning receiver and coupled to the modem; the processor operable toobtain the coordinates of the first position from the global positionreceiver, and wherein the processor is operable to control the modem towirelessly transmit at least the coordinates obtained from the globalpositioning receiver to the server that is external to the detector; andthe processor of the detector operable to control the modem towirelessly receive at least coordinates of a second position from theserver, and wherein the processor is operable to determine whether awarning should be issued in response to at least the receivedcoordinates for the second position; and (b) the server external to thedetector, comprising: at least one hardware based processor operable totransmit at least coordinates for the second position to the modem ofthe detector; and a database storing at least the coordinates of thesecond position.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor of thedetector is operable to receive the first position from a user of thedetector.
 3. The system of claim 2, the detector further comprising: areceiver for detecting electromagnetic signals generated in the contextof police activity; the processor of the detector coupled to saidreceiver, and wherein the processor is operable to evaluateelectromagnetic signals received by said receiver to determine whether awarning is to be issued, the processor operating under control ofsoftware and/or data; and the processor further operable to receive thefirst position from a user of the detector in response to the processorissuing a warning.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor ofthe detector is further operable to determine if there is data relatedto the coordinates of the first position from the global positioningreceiver, and wherein the processor is further operable to control themodem of the detector to wirelessly transmit data related to thecoordinates of the first position to the server that is external to thedetector.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the modem of the detector isoperable to wirelessly transmit the data related to the coordinates ofthe first position to the server external to the detector in real-time.6. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor of the detector isfurther operable to determine if the coordinates of the first positionfrom the global positioning receiver are designated as a false alert,wherein the indication of the false alert designation is data related tothe coordinates of the first position, and wherein the processor isfurther operable to control the modem of the detector to wirelesslytransmit an indication of the false alert designation to the server thatis external to the detector if the coordinates of the first positionhave been designated as a false alert.
 7. The system of claim 6, whereinthe processor of the detector is further operable to receive the falsealert designation from a user of the detector, and wherein the processoris further operable to determine that the coordinates of the firstposition are designated as a false alert based on the false alertdesignation received from the user.
 8. The system of claim 6, whereinthe modem of the detector is operable to wirelessly transmit theindication of the false alert designation for the coordinates of thefirst position to the server external to the detector in real-time. 9.The system of claim 4, wherein the processor of the detector is furtheroperable to determine if the coordinates of the first position from theglobal position receiver are designated as a threat, wherein theindication of the threat designation is data related to the coordinatesof the first position, and wherein the processor is further operable tocontrol the modem of the detector to wirelessly transmit an indicationof the threat designation to the server that is external to the detectorif the coordinates of the first position have been designated as athreat.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor of the detectoris operable to receive the threat designation from a user of thedetector, and wherein the processor is further operable to determinethat the coordinates of the first position are designated as a threatbased on the threat designation received from the user.
 11. The systemof claim 9, wherein the modem of the detector is operable to wirelesslytransmit the indication of the threat false alert designation for thecoordinates of the first position to the server external to the detectorin real-time.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the modem of thedetector is operable to wirelessly transmit at least the coordinates ofthe first position to the server external to the detector in real-time.13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first position is that of thedetector.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor of thedetector is further operable to obtain at least heading data for thedetector from the global positioning receiver, and wherein the processoris further operable to control the modem of the detector to wirelesslytransmit the heading data obtained from the global positioning receiverto the server that is external to the detector.
 15. The system of claim14, wherein the modem of the detector is operable to wirelessly transmitthe heading data to the server external to the detector in real-time.16. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable toobtain at least speed data for the detector from the global positioningreceiver, and wherein the processor is further operable to control themodem of the detector to wirelessly transmit the speed data obtainedfrom the global positioning receiver to the server that is external tothe detector.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the modem of thedetector is operable to wirelessly transmit the speed data to the serverexternal to the detector in real-time.
 18. The system of claim 1,wherein the processor of the detector is further operable to obtain anidentifier of the detector, the identifier identifying the detector fromamong a plurality of detectors, and wherein the processor is furtheroperable to control the modem of the detector to wirelessly transmit theidentifier of the detector to the server that is external to thedetector.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the modem of the detectoris operable to wirelessly transmit the identifier of the detector to theserver external to the detector in real-time.
 20. The system of claim 1,wherein the modem of the detector is a cellular data modem.
 21. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the modem of the detector is a GSM cellulardata modem.
 22. The system of claim 1, wherein the second position wasselected by a user that did not select the first position, and whereinthe second position was received by the server.
 23. The system of claim1, wherein the second position is about the same as the first position,and wherein the coordinates of the second position are about the same asthe coordinates of the first position.
 24. The system of claim 1,wherein the processor is further operable to control the modem of thedetector to wirelessly receive data related to the coordinates of thesecond position from the server that is external to the detector, andwherein the processor is operable to determine whether a warning shouldbe issued in response to the received data related to the coordinatesfor the second position.
 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the modemis further operable to wirelessly receive from the server external tothe detector an indication of a false alert designation for thecoordinates of the second position, wherein the indication of the falsealert designation is data related to the coordinates of the secondposition, and wherein the processor is further operable to control themodem to wirelessly receive the indication.
 26. The system of claim 25,wherein the processor is operable to determine that a warning should notbe issued for the coordinates of the second position in response to thereceived indication of the false alert designation.
 27. The system ofclaim 25, wherein the modem of the detector is operable to wirelesslyreceive the indication of the false alert designation for thecoordinates of the second position from the server external to thedetector in real-time.
 28. The system of claim 24, wherein the modem isfurther operable to wirelessly receive from the server external to thedetector an indication of a threat designation for the coordinates ofthe second position, wherein the indication of the threat designation isdata related to the coordinates of the second position, and wherein theprocessor is further operable to control the modem to wirelessly receivethe indication.
 29. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor isoperable to determine that a warning should be issued for thecoordinates of the second position in response to the receivedindication of the threat designation.
 30. The system of claim 28,wherein the modem of the detector is operable to wirelessly receive theindication of the threat designation for the coordinates of the secondposition from the server external to the detector in real-time.
 31. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the processor of the server is furtheroperable to transmit to the modem of the detector the coordinates of thesecond position based upon a condition.
 32. The system of claim 31,wherein the processor of the server is operable to determine whether toif the coordinates of the second position if the second position arewithin a radius of the detector, and the processor is further operableto transmit to the modem of the detector the coordinates of the secondposition if the coordinates of the second position are within a radiusof the detector.
 33. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor isfurther operable to transmit to the modem of the detector thecoordinates of the second position in response to a counter.
 34. Thesystem of claim 31, wherein the processor is further operable totransmit to the modem of the detector the coordinates of the secondposition based upon whether the detector previously transmitted thecoordinates of the second position to the server.
 35. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the processor of the server is operable to transmit tothe modem of the detector a software update, and wherein the processorof the detector is operable to control the modem to receive from theserver the software update.
 36. The system of claim 35, wherein theprocessor of the detector is operable to implement the software updatereceived by the modem from the server.
 37. The system of claim 1,further comprising a plurality of radar detectors, wherein each modem ofeach detector in the plurality of detectors is operable to transmit datato the server and operable to receive data from the server.
 38. Thesystem of claim 37, wherein the processor of the server is operable totransmit to each modem of each detector in the plurality of detectors asoftware update, and wherein each processor of each of detector in theplurality of the detectors is operable to control each modem to receivefrom the server the software update.
 39. The system of claim 38, whereineach processor of each detector is operable to implement the softwareupdate received by the corresponding modem from the server.
 40. A policeactivity radar detector, comprising a global positioning receiveroperable to provide coordinates for a position; a modem operable towirelessly transmit at least the coordinates of the position to a serverexternal to the detector, wherein the modem is embedded within thedetector; at least one hardware based processor coupled to the globalpositioning receiver and coupled to the modem; and the processoroperable to obtain the coordinates of the position from the globalposition receiver, and wherein the processor is operable to control themodem to wirelessly transmit at least the coordinates obtained from theglobal positioning receiver to the server that is external to thedetector.
 41. A police activity radar detector, comprising a modemoperable to wirelessly receive at least coordinates of a position from aserver external to the detector, wherein the modem is embedded withinthe detector; at least one hardware based processor coupled to themodem; and the processor operable to control the modem to wirelesslyreceive at least the coordinates from the server that is external to thedetector, and wherein the processor is operable to determine whether awarning should be issued in response to at least the receivedcoordinates.
 42. The detector of claim 41, further comprising: the modemoperable to also wirelessly receive data related to the coordinates fromthe server external to the detector; and the processor operable tocontrol the modem to wirelessly receive the data related to thecoordinates from the server that is external to the detector, andwherein the processor is operable to determine whether a warning shouldbe issued in response to the received data related to the coordinates.